The Austin and Republican rumor mills have been in overdrive for months about Gov. Rick Perry's future political plans.

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is planning to run for governor in 2010, her spokesman Matt Mackowiak said while he was in town Wednesday. If she resigns her Senate seat to devote her efforts to the governor's race, Perry would name her successor.

Mentioned as the top front-runners are Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (who also has indicated that he plans to run for governor), former Secretary of State Roger Williams, Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Michael Williams and, if he so chooses, Perry himself.

During a fundraiser at Jerry and Glenda Kane's Hewit Drive home Wednesday night, Perry addressed the rumors that he wants to move up from the state Capitol to the U.S. Capitol.

"I don't want to go to Washington, D.C., in any form or fashion and I won't," he said.

Talking about his objectives for 2009, the governor left the door open to running for re-election. There are no gubernatorial term limits in Texas.

"I have a lot of things I want to get done during the next session," the governor said. "If I get those things done I may ride off into the sunset. But if I don't I'll run for re-election."

The Austin and Republican rumor mills have been in overdrive for months about Gov. Rick Perry's future political plans.

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is planning to run for governor in 2010, her spokesman Matt Mackowiak said while he was in town Wednesday. If she resigns her Senate seat to devote her efforts to the governor's race, Perry would name her successor.

Mentioned as the top front-runners are Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (who also has indicated that he plans to run for governor), former Secretary of State Roger Williams, Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Michael Williams and, if he so chooses, Perry himself.

During a fundraiser at Jerry and Glenda Kane's Hewit Drive home Wednesday night, Perry addressed the rumors that he wants to move up from the state Capitol to the U.S. Capitol.

"I don't want to go to Washington, D.C., in any form or fashion and I won't," he said.

Talking about his objectives for 2009, the governor left the door open to running for re-election. There are no gubernatorial term limits in Texas.

"I have a lot of things I want to get done during the next session," the governor said. "If I get those things done I may ride off into the sunset. But if I don't I'll run for re-election."

Perry kisses babies, chats with locals

Perry was in his element at the intimate gathering of Republican movers and shakers at the fundraiser.

The governor, who stayed for more than two hours, kissed a couple of babies who arrived with their parents and chatted with the likes of car dealer Ed Hicks, Port Commissioners Judy Hawley and Bernard Paulson and businessman Mike Scott. Fred Heldenfels IV, originally from Corpus Christi but now living in Austin, also was in the crowd.

Heldenfels was appointed by Perry to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which works with the governor, Legislature, governing boards and higher education institutions on issues dealing with access to and quality of Texas higher education.

Behind every good man is a good woman

The governor explained to everyone that his wife, Anita, was at a girls' weekend at the King Ranch and heaped praise on her for her role in Texas politics. He then turned to Glenda Kane and praised her for her role in Texas health care.

Lounging in a chair nearby, Jerry Kane grinned.

"What am I? Chopped liver?"

"You are the husband, just like me, brother," responded Perry, who credited his and Kane's success to their wives. "You're lucky to be where you are."

Both Kanes have gubernatorial appointments, bestowed by Perry. Glenda is chairwoman of the State Health Services Council, which makes recommendations to the Department of State Health Services regarding its management, operations, policies and rules for public health, mental health and substance abuse. Jerry is chairman of the Health and Human Services Council, which assists in developing policies and rules for the Health and Human Services Commission as well as making recommendations regarding management and operation of the commission to the executive commissioner.

Other governors envy our economy

Gov. Perry told the crowd that other U.S. governors are envious of the great economy in Texas, which he said many of them erroneously are chalking up to the booming oil and gas industry. He pointed to diverse industries such as health care and banking as proof.

"The 49 other governors would love to oversee an economy like ours," he said. "Just ask (California governor and action movie star) Arnold Schwarzenegger."

In a decision that is likely to have significant impact on lawsuits and potential lawsuits across the country, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled this weekend that government agencies cannot use federal RICO laws to punish companies who may employ undocumented workers.

18
posted on 03/30/2008 12:20:59 PM PDT
by mdittmar
(May God watch over those who serve,and have served,to keep us free)

Recently, she watered down the immigration bill. If Texans elect her, they will get what they deserve.

What she actually did was defund the Fence, or wipe out the mandate, whichever.

The Hutchison amendment reads, in part,  nothing in this paragraph shall require the Secretary of Homeland Security to install fencing, physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors in a particular location along an international border of the United States, if the Secretary determines that the use or placement of such resources is not the most appropriate means to achieve and maintain operational control over the international border at such location.

By slipping the Hutchison amendment into the DHS funding bill, Hutchison intends to give DHS total discretion to build a fence or to not build a fence in any particular location. That is not what the American people were led to believe would happen when Congress passed the Secure Fence Act in 2006, Elliott said.

No tough call here. Hutchison is an open-borders squish whom would be an exceptionally poor choice for our party to nominate. She has also been far removed from Austin politics (by 2011, it will have been 18 years removed), and ostensibly popular Senators have fared poorly as Governor. From what I’ve heard of Michael Williams, he is a fairly good Conservative.

31
posted on 03/30/2008 6:47:22 PM PDT
by fieldmarshaldj
(~~~***Just say NO to the "O"***~~~)

Williams may run, he has close to two years to make it official. There’s no term limits for TX Governor last I checked, so Perry could keep running indefinitely. But his poor showing in ‘06 in a 4-way race ought to be the writing on the wall that 10 years as Governor is way long enough. He’s already going to be the longest serving Governor in state history with that (and will break Allan Shivers record for longest uninterrupted service this summer).

37
posted on 03/31/2008 4:18:18 AM PDT
by fieldmarshaldj
(~~~***Just say NO to the "O"***~~~)

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